Kennedy responds....

I get so few comments here so I was delighted that Dan Kennedy himself chose to read and respond to my last, just below, about using first names of public figures. I am particularly pleased that Kennedy (notice I don't refer to him as Dan) would take time to do that because my post was about his Media Nation blog, and because I particularly respect his opinion.

Since comments are public I thought I'd post it here in a more prominent place, along with my reply.

Dan Kennedy said...

I don't know. His first name is unusual, which acts as kind of a branding. And his last name sounds more like a first name. Couldn't that have something to do with it, too? And what about Rudy (Giuliani)?

I say:

Patrick isn't, to the best of my knowledge (limited I admit), involved in this kind of branding, nor is his staff or advisors. And neither is Obama.

As for Rudy, this was a famously unlikable man, and before his campaign dropped off the face of the earth I am guessing he tried putting forth “Rudy” to soften his image. But though he used his first name as his website address he still referred to himself there by his full name. And the various articles and blog entries I just googled also used both, except in a few cases when it was a second reference within the same piece.

I support allowing the individual to decide how he or she wants to be known, and in a respectful environment we should honor that.

So, fine to say FDR or Give-Em-Hell Harry or Ike. Not so with Patrick or Obama.

And really, I believe that in the cases of Patrick and Obama people use their first names to diminish them and not to show informality or respect or because of any branding, except for the negative kind. The racial aspect also remains.